TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – The Kenosha Kingfish (5-7) took care of business Saturday night winning 7-3 over Traverse City (5-7) in front of a crowd of 1,280 a Pit Spitter Park.

Pit Spitters starting pitcher Chad Patrick (Purdue Northwest) was strong on the mound pitching six innings, striking out six and giving up three runs on five hits.

RHP Keith Kutzler (UW – Whitewater) made his first start for Kenosha this year. He finished the night giving up three runs in four innings on seven hits.

RHP Matthew Plisko (Macalester College) came out of the bullpen for Kenosha in the fifth. In three scoreless innings Plisko faced the minimum with four strikeouts and got the win.

Kenosha’s relief pitching continued to be dominant with LHP Troy Hickey (Madison College) and RHP Tanner Fallon (Loras College). Fallon and Hickey combined for two scoreless innings.

3B Nate Thomas (St. Joseph’s) legged out a double to start the Kingfish off in the top of the second inning. A few batters later Thomas scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch.

Traverse City responded in the bottom of the second inning with two runs on three hits to take the lead 2-1.

Kenosha tied the game 2-2 in the fourth inning after a leadoff double by LF Charles Middleton (Sierra College). Middleton scored on a double steal later in the inning.

In the top of the fifth inning the Kingfish tied the game for a second time when SS Mitchell Buban (UW – Milwaukee) recorded a single and scored on the play after two Pit Spitter errors.

RF Zach Nogalski (UW – Milwaukee) led off the eighth inning with a single with Pit Spitters RHP Chase Gearing (Saginaw Valley State) on the mound.

A few batters later Middleton picked up his third hit of the game that drove in two and Kenosha lead 5-3.

The Kingfish took advantage of another Traverse City error after a single by DH Ryan Knernschield (Eastern Illinois) to right field. The ball was misplayed and an errant throw allowed Middleton to score.

2B Ethan Owens (Drury) drove in the final run of the eighth on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Gearing took the loss for the Pit Spitters after 1.1 innings giving up three runs on two hits.

The Kingfish continue return home tomorrow for a two game series with the Battle Creek Bombers. Tomorrow’s game is slated for 4:05 p.m. CT first pitch.